Page 106 - robinson-crusoe

a camp for myself, and had secured it so as to remove to it.
So with this resolution I composed myself for a time, and
resolved that I would go to work with all speed to build me
a wall with piles and cables, &c., in a circle, as before, and
set my tent up in it when it was finished; but that I would
venture to stay where I was till it was finished, and fit to re-
move. This was the 21st.
APRIL 22. - The next morning I begin to consider of
means to put this resolve into execution; but I was at a great
loss about my tools. I had three large axes, and abundance
of hatchets (for we carried the hatchets for traffic with the
Indians); but with much chopping and cutting knotty hard
wood, they were all full of notches, and dull; and though
I had a grindstone, I could not turn it and grind my tools
too. This cost me as much thought as a statesman would
have bestowed upon a grand point of politics, or a judge
upon the life and death of a man. At length I contrived a
wheel with a string, to turn it with my foot, that I might
have both my hands at liberty. NOTE. - I had never seen any
such thing in England, or at least, not to take notice how
it was done, though since I have observed, it is very com-
mon there; besides that, my grindstone was very large and
heavy. This machine cost me a full week’s work to bring it
to perfection.
APRIL 28, 29. - These two whole days I took up in grind-
ing my tools, my machine for turning my grindstone
performing very well.
APRIL 30. - Having perceived my bread had been low a
great while, now I took a survey of it, and reduced myself to

10